Fans have took to hit out at Luton’s response to the ‘inappropriate chanting’ heard in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
The Football Association are currently seeking observations from the Hatters over chants heard at Kenilworth Road which indirectly referenced the Hillsborough disaster.
The taunts were sung by home fans with the FA says it is now looking for information from Luton as well as further detail from the police.
“We strongly condemn chanting of this nature and will continue to work closely with our stakeholders across the game, including the clubs, leagues, fan groups and the relevant authorities to proactively address this issue,” an FA adds.
‘May be interpreted’
Everyone heard it on TV and in the stadium. Lost all respect for your club and everything you have done. https://t.co/JJwS6iHr5w
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) November 6, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT
Luton Town Football Club is saddened by reports of inappropriate chanting towards Liverpool supporters during yesterday’s Premier League fixture at Kenilworth Road.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric for the most part of a pulsating game, in which Rob Edwards’ side came close to pulling off one of the results of the season.
While we do not wish to dampen the atmosphere at our home ground in any way, we are extremely disappointed that a small number of supporters soured the occasion with chants that may be interpreted as being in relation to tragedies that have affected Liverpool FC in the past.
The Club condemns any kind of chanting that knowingly seeks to divide, and our safety and security team launched an internal investigation at the earliest opportunity.
What has quickly become evident is that a number of people may have taken part without knowledge that the words used were in relation to the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies, and we see the route to persuading supporters not to repeat these chants in future is through communication and education.
On this basis we are reviewing CCTV and media footage from the match, and will speak to witnesses to identify individuals who may have taken part. Any perpetrators could face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecutions.
If anyone has information and video evidence that will support the investigation, please email myvoice@lutontown.co.uk with the subject ‘Inappropriate Chanting’.
The eyes of the world are upon us in the Premier League, which we are all learning quickly to adapt to, and we have to remind our supporters that you are all ambassadors of the Club and it is your responsibility to behave according to the rules of the ground. This includes understanding the songs that cannot be sung in line with the Love Football, Protect The Game campaign.
On behalf of all at Luton Town, we would like to wholeheartedly apologise to anyone offended by the chants heard during yesterday’s match, and will continue to work with supporter groups to educate fans on chants that are classed as tragedy abuse by football authorities, the police and CPS.
Jamie Carragher, working at the game as a Sky Sports analyst, said: “As supporters you’ve got to have rivalry, there is no doubt. But we’re better than that.
“It’s happened two or three times in the game. All clubs have been guilty of that over the years at different times.
“But the world we live in right now, I think we’re better than that.”
Then tweeted: “Every fan base has been guilty at one time or another of tragedy chanting. This is not about point scoring between fans, it’s about football fans coming together as one & saying enough is enough & that this is not acceptable anymore ❤️”
As part of the ‘Love Football, Protect The Game’ initiative agreed by the English game’s authorities on the eve of the 2023/24 season, regulation changes and tough new measures have been put in place which will see those found to have been involved in tragedy-related offences facing stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.
“Now as a 43-year-old man, I wouldn’t dream of singing about somebody dying.”
📺 @robbohuyton and @paul7cope discuss Luton fans, Hillsborough chants, tragedy chanting, and ‘whataboutery’. pic.twitter.com/8faEvhDzoQ
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) November 6, 2023
As mentioned, fans hit out at Luton’s response to ‘inappropriate chanting’ heard in the draw against Liverpool…
@IrishLivReds: Most LFC fans congratulated you on promotion as a fairytale success, which it was. Chanting distasteful stuff, however, tarnishes the image of your club. It wasn’t just a small number of fans either, as it was very audible on Sky Sports. Won’t miss you when you are relegated 👎
@CarolBoyle2: As a life long Luton supporter, I am ashamed & disgusted by what happened yesterday & I totally understand the anger & upset this has caused the Liverpool team & supporters 😔 there are no excuses & I for one am truly sorry.
@DanielB130498: I’m a shamed to be a Luton fan it was meant to be a good day enjoying the game and now is ruined 😡 by a number of r fans u lot should be ashamed I can only apologise on behalf of myself but that well never be enough YNWA ❤️🙏🏻
@LFCTransferRoom: ‘Small numbers’. They must have loud voices for it to be heard on TV. Probably more like the whole stadium.
@HendrickD82: What about all the “feed the Scousers” chants that most of the home crowd partook in despite Luton have far worse poverty issues??
@Paullfc6x: Small section , maybe interpreted , shove your so called apology where the sun doesn’t shine
@RousingTheKop: This is what you’ve come up with? Disgrace
@baldypaul: Why have you included a match report as part of this statement? The team’s performance is irrelevant to the incidences of tragedy chanting, and the poverty chanting wasn’t much better, especially given how many children in Luton are living in poverty.
@iamlouiserogan: It could be heard as loud as day on TV. Pathetic statement. Really hope ye go back down to the slums where ye deserve to go. Disgusting and shame on you all
@James_LFC6: Only took you 24 hours after statements from the @premierleague and @LFC. You’ve behaved no better than the participants in the chanting. The damage done won’t be forgotten anytime soon. You’ve even tried to protect some of the supporters stating some my not of understood
@eddiegibbs: 🤬 Oh please f**k right off back to where you came from @LutonTown, non-league clubs would have handled this statement better, ‘small number’ … like WTF people!
@Jamieg2410: Crazy it’s taken you 24 hours to release a statement that’s actually made things worse. Luton lost a lot of credibility and support yesterday. People will not forget quickly
@quigo26: Awful statement. May be interpreted??? Or some fans may have taken part without knowing the meaning of it… come on lads please try harder
@Liam_Catlingg: It was pretty much the full ground, spineless statement
@Stringsmark: As a Hillsborough survivor, living in Welwyn Garden City, I’d happily come and talk to anyone at the club…
@lutontown007: Why is it some fans are determined to let our club down, i’ve been a fan for over 50 years and this is just another low point, get that section of fans out of our club please, sorry Liverpool.
@BarryRoach12: Just call it out for what it was. We don’t want a summary of the game, we want YOU to say the right things, not wishy washy rubbish. Kids died, husbands, brothers, sisters..
@Davolaar: Seek advice or help next time you release a statement.
@TomCarroll10: “What has quickly become evident is that a number of people may have taken part without knowledge that the words used were in relation to the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies.” How did the author get the go ahead for this? Disgraceful attempt at an apology. #JFT97
@RichdelaRiv: That’s an awful statement. “Reports of”. “May be interpreted.” 🙈
@kop_girl77: What a load of shit this statement is. People didn’t know what they were chanting??? Behave
@Gregoris96_YNWA: “Small number of supporters” and chants that “may be interpreted” as being in relation to tragedies, where to start, what a terrible way to apologise about it
@JACKDesign_uk: Pathetic. If in 2023 you’re claiming not to know what those chants mean you’re quite frankly lying. Spend less time trying to hide from it and more time sorting out your own fans.
@leebo86: You say a small amount of fans. It was clearly audible on TV this was no small group
@SalligatorLFC: Your team’s performance is completely irrelevant so no idea why you crowbarred that in. It wasn’t “a small number” because we could hear it on TV. Have a look at your fans’ tweets on here – they absolutely knew what they were singing about.
@SarahStano: What a disgraceful statement. Absolutely shameful! It was more than a small amount of supporters, and there were multiple chants! Really poor statement from @LutonTown. You need to be better. Electric atmosphere that was belittling to your rivals. 👏 Fucking wow!
@ryan3levis: This is why Luton took ages to make a statement then. They’ve spent 24 hours trying to shoehorn every caveat possible into it. Small number of supporters, some didn’t know what they were singing – it’s all such bollocks and sugarcoating it like this is not helpful at all.
@KKiernan19: This is a meaningless statement. Liverpool FC have a chance to set a president here and ban Luton Town FC away fans and state that any further cases of these vile chants from other supporters they will be issued with the same ban
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